Last week in this space, we referred to Alabama-Huntsville as a tough read. A two-game home sweep over Niagara last weekend may have made the writing a bit more legible. Since breaking a first half eight-game losing skid with a road tie at Robert Morris Dec. 4, the Chargers are finding out who they are as a team and the results have been generally positive.
Including the two wins over Niagara last weekend by identical 3-2 counts—the first conference sweep for the Chargers since sweeping Wayne State at the Von Braun Center in February of 2006—UAH picked up three of their season total of seven wins in the month of January.
“We haven’t had many wins and while at home to get two wins is good for our guys,” said Chargers head coach Danton Cole.
The series marked the first games on home ice this season for Alabama-Huntsville since Nov. 13-14 and their first at home since beating — you guessed it — Niagara 50 weeks ago.
“They were different kinds of games; one we were ahead and held on and the other we needed to come from behind. When we play well and win, a lot of different guys are chipping in. We tend to not have that 20-point guy, but a lot bunched in the middle.”
That held true with the Chargers getting goals from six different players. Among that group were sophomores Jamie Easton and Tom Durnie each picking up their first collegiate goals. Cameron Talbot again was in net for both games and was solid with a two-game total of 63 saves while allowing only four goals.
“Talbie was steady like he usually is. We can’t take that for granted, but we do expect him to make the big saves at big times. The save he made on the shorthanded two-on-one in the third period—we needed that at that time.”
The Chargers sparse game schedule — last weekend’s were their only games over a 26-day span — would seem detrimental to getting any team rhythm in place, but Cole actually is in favor of having the next week off before a rematch with Niagara on the road.
“Normally you would want to keep playing for the momentum, but we’re banged up. We could use another week because it’s important to get everybody back feeling good for the stretch.”
FRIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG
• Niagara junior goaltender Adam Avramenko, who entered the season as the Purps’ number one goaltender but hadn’t played a minute since the calendar turned, may have regained the confidence of the coaching staff. He came on in relief for the third period Wednesday after Robert Morris scored three times in the second and didn’t allow a single goal in the third or overtime to allow Niagara to tie the game on a late goal by sophomore Sam Goodwin.
• With two games in hand on second place Robert Morris but five points back, Niagara finds themselves with the odd possibility of not being the home team for the CHA semi-finals on their own sheet of ice.
• Robert Morris played spoiler in the final game to be played at the John Glas Fieldhouse with a 5-2 win last Saturday. It marked just the second time the Colonials have beaten the Beavers in Minnesota and came one day after BSU became the first team in the nation to the 18-win mark.
• All four teams in the conference have this weekend off. It is the last bye week for all but Robert Morris, who is also off the last weekend in February.
